Chapter 4 Four

As I arrived home around 9 pm, I found Olivia deep in prayer. She immediately sensed something was amiss, noticing the distress etched on my face. I couldn't settle, pacing back and forth as tension radiated from every pore. At one point, I rushed to the restroom, overwhelmed.

"Is everything fine?" Olivia asked, interrupting her prayers.

I collapsed beside her, grasping her hands. "Olivia, I'm doomed," I whispered, my body shaking and sweat dripping from my brow.

Olivia's expression turned worried and curious. "What's wrong? How was your outing with Ethan?"

I paused, struggling to find the words. "It was going well... until we decided to have dinner before coming home." My voice trembled.

Olivia's patience wore thin. "Calm down and talk to me!" she exclaimed.

I took a deep breath. "Olivia... Juliet saw us," I whispered, then shouted, "At the restaurant!"

Olivia's nonchalant tone caught me off guard. "And so? What's so special about Juliet seeing you?"

I collapsed to the floor, overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down my face as I wailed, "Don't you understand? Ava's best friend saw me with Ethan! How do you think Ava will react? What will happen to me now?"

My fair skin turned bright red, and I felt like my world was crumbling. I envisioned my life ending, my reputation ruined. Olivia's words of caution barely registered.

"If you continue like this, people will see how weak you are. Stop showing your weakness," Olivia said, her voice laced with pity.

I removed my wig, feeling vulnerable. "If you were in my shoes, you'd know how it feels," I retorted.

Olivia's expression remained unsympathetic. "Will crying solve anything?" she asked, her attention focused on the gifts Ethan had bought me. She examined each item, seemingly indifferent to my distress.

My phone rang, piercing the tense atmosphere. Ethan's name flashed on the screen, and my heart skipped a beat. I hesitated, fearful of answering.

As I sat amidst my turmoil, I whispered to myself, "Please, do not call me." The mere thought of Ethan's voice sent shivers down my spine.

I do not want anything to do with you anymore, I muttered, trying to convince myself that distancing myself from him was the right decision.

Olivia's sudden burst of laughter cut through the tension, and she teased, "Coward. Juliet saw you, and you completely fell apart. What if it were Ava? You would have vanished into thin air on the spot." Her words stung, but I knew she was right.

Ethan's phone call pierced the air once more, and Olivia answered with a cheerful, "Hello, Ethan." Ethan's deep voice replied, "Hello. Where is Chloe? Is this Olivia?"

I tuned out their conversation, overwhelmed by the crippling anxiety and fear that gripped my heart.

The thought of Ava's wrath sent my imagination into overdrive. I envisioned the worst-case scenario, and my sweat and tears intensified.

Olivia's voice brought me back to reality. "Yes, it is Olivia," she replied. "Chloe is here, busy crying." Ethan's request followed, "Can you please give the phone to Chloe?"

But I refused to take the phone from Olivia, resolute in my decision to sever ties with Ethan.

Olivia cleverly put the phone on loudspeaker, allowing me to hear Ethan's every word. "She has taken the phone," Olivia informed Ethan.

"Hello, Chloe," Ethan said, his voice laced with concern. However, I remained silent, unable to muster the strength to respond.

"Chloe, can you hear me?" Ethan asked again, his tone tinged with a hint of desperation.

"She's hearing you," Olivia replied on my behalf, her voice firm but gentle.

Ethan continued, "Ava called me earlier to check up on me, but she didn't mention anything out of the ordinary. I called her back minutes ago to see if Juliet had said anything to her, but she didn't bring it up. Are you listening, Chloe?" Ethan asked, but I remained mute, my emotions still in turmoil.

A nagging thought crept into my mind: Ava might be deliberately withholding her knowledge of the situation to preserve her relationship with Ethan, while secretly plotting to confront me. The mere possibility sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't stop crying.

Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts once more. "I called Juliet and made a deal with her. She asked for money, which I've already given her. I think that's enough to ensure she won't tell Ava about what she saw." Ethan's words brought me a semblance of relief, but my anxiety still lingered.

"Thank you, I think she can now calm her nerves," Olivia said, attempting to reassure Ethan.

"Please take care of her," Ethan replied. "I'll check on her tomorrow since tomorrow is Sunday. I hope you guys will be around tomorrow?"

I suddenly erupted, my emotions boiling over. "Don't check on me!" I shouted, my voice hoarse from crying. "I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore!"

Olivia swiftly covered my mouth with her hand, silencing me. She then ended the call, her expression a mixture of concern and frustration.

"Are you this silly?" Olivia asked, her tone gentle but firm. "This is our only chance to get back on Ava," she said, her eyes sparkling with determination.

I stared at her, taken aback. "Our chance?" I repeated, surprise etched on my face. "What do you mean our chance?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Olivia's expression faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "It was a slip of the tongue," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I mean, this is your chance to get rich, to mingle with a billionaire. That's something to boast about," Olivia said, attempting to calm me down.

But my anxiety lingered. "What if Juliet tells Ava?" I asked Olivia, my voice trembling. "What will happen to me?"

Olivia's reassuring words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. "You should always trust me, Chloe," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "I've got your back, and I'll always protect you, no matter what." As she spoke, she continued to inspect the array of items Ethan had purchased for me, her eyes scanning each one with meticulous care.

Her promise of protection and loyalty brought me a sense of solace, and I felt my tension ease. "Olivia will always protect me," I repeated silently to myself, a sense of gratitude and trust washing over me. I felt blessed to have Olivia by my side, her unwavering friendship a beacon of comfort in the midst of turmoil.